Friday, 13 January 2017

"Velvet Mountain: An Anthology 1970-1972" by COCHISE [feat Mick Grabham and BJ Cole with Steve Marriott of Humble Pie and Members of Hookfoot as Guests] (2013 Esoteric Recordings 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Past Love..."

This rather beautifully presented 2CD set from reissue champs Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) puts up the notion that the West-Coast influenced COCHISE (they came out of the Cambridge and Sunderland) are worthy of your attention - a forgotten British Americana Folk-Rock band with Guitarist Mick Grabham and B.J.Cole on Pedal Steel that deserve a second go-round. There are even appearances from Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson of Hookfoot and Elton John's Band, Tim Renwick of Junior's Eyes and Quiver and a rare duet with Steve Marriott of Humble Pie on the second LP to draw in collectors...

Unfortunately even with my penchant for all things Bronco, Matthews Southern Comfort and Brinsley Schwarz (see reviews) - there are only sporadic moments of greatness on offer here and its easy to hear why the slightly plodding Cochise sank without a trace despite popping out three albums at the beginning of that most receptive of decades - the Seventies (1970, 1971 and 1972 and a rare stand-alone 45). Still - if you're a fan of them and like-minded Americana music (The Band, Poco, The Flying Burrito Brothers and even America) - the presentation is superlative and the audio absolutely top notch (from original master tapes). There's a lot to get through so let's get to the nitty gritty...

UK released 29 April 2013 (7 May 2013 in the USA) - "Velvet Mountain: An Anthology 1970-1972" by COCHISE on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22388 (Barcode 5013929438842) is a 2CD Remastered Retrospective with 30-tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (58:41 minutes):

1. Velvet Mountain

2. China

3. Trafalgar Day

4. Moment And The End

5. Watch This Space

6. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

7. Past Loves

8. Painted Lady

9. Black Is The Colour

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut LP "Cochise" - released July 1970 in the UK on United Artists UAS 29117. Produced by DICK TAYLOR

10. Love's Made A Fool Of You - November 1970 UK 7" single on Liberty LBF 15425 (A-side - a Buddy Holly cover version)

11. Jed Collder

12. Down Country Girls

13. Home Again

14. Lost Hearts

15. Strange Images

16. Why I Sing The Blues

Tracks 11 to 16 are Side 1 of their 2nd studio album "Swallow Tales" - released April 1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83428.

Disc 2 (60:22 minutes):

1. Another Day

2. Axiom Of Maria

3. Can I Break Your Heart

4. O Come All Ye Faithful

Tracks 1 to 4 are Side 2 of their 2nd studio album "Swallow Tales" - released April 1971 in the UK on Liberty Records LBG 83428.

5. Words Of A Dying Man - November 1970 UK 7" single on Liberty LBF 15425 (B-side of the Buddy Holly cover version "Love's Made A Fool Of You" on Disc 1)

6. Cajun Girl

7. Blind Love

8. Dance, Dance, Dance

9. So Many Times

10. Diamonds

11. Thunder in The Crib

12. Up And Down

13. Wishing Well

14. Midnight Moonshine

Tracks 6 to 14 are their 3rd and final studio album "So Far" - released May 1972 on United Artists UAS 29286 (not 28286 as is mistakenly credited on the back cover). The track "Dance, Dance, Dance" (a Neil Young cover) was recorded 'live' at Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1971.

COCHISE was:

STEWART BROWN - Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar on the "Cochise" album only

JOHN GILBERT - Lead Vocals on "Swallow Tales" and "So Far" albums

B.J. COLE - Pedal Steel Guitar and Dobro on all albums (Cello also on "Cochise")

MICK GRABHAM - Lead and Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Organ and Vocals on all albums (Lead Vocals on "Dance, Dance, Dance" on "So Far")

The three-way foldout card digipak has two picture CDs - photos beneath the see-through trays - LP artwork for the three albums on the flaps and a quality 16-page booklet with new liner notes from MICHAEL HEATLEY (with thanks to founder member Mick Grabham). It comes with the usual plethora of trade adverts, publicity photos and discography info and is very nicely done. But the big news is the stunning audio care of PASCHAL BYRNE (done at Audio Archiving) that lifts the original master tapes off the ground in a big way. I had the first two LPs on original British vinyl back in the day and they sounded o.k. - here they are full of beans - great clarity and without ever overdoing the treble knob. Onto to the music...

The debut sported some typically provocative but strangely off-putting nipple artwork from Hipgnosis – then beginning their long association with Pink Floyd and all things oblique yet cool. Problem is that the artwork doesn’t reflect in any way the music contained within. From the outset you can hear how heavily influenced the five-piece was by the emerging Americana scene across the pond - so "Velvet Mountain" is sub Band territory while "China" is so America. Some of the tunes are stuff like "Past Loves" is a grower. But a dreadful cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "59th Street Bridge Song" and Stewart Brown's frankly dead vocals do for so many. BJ Cole makes his Dobro presence known on his own "Trafalgar Day" where our heroes liken their lovelorn loins to that of Nelson but it descends after a promising opening into dreadful guitar wailing. Stewart Brown wails on "Moment And The End" and you wish he wouldn't.

But things get better with "Swallow Tales" which is way more Country than the debut - PJ Cole's Pedal Steel to the fore and John Gilbert sounding like the enthusiastic vocalist this kind of music needs sing of 'hound dogs' that need to 'scratch an itch'. The song quality picks up with Mick Grabham's "Home Again" - his jangling guitar sound akin to the Byrds and serious dollops of Gene Clark and Gram Parsons. "Lost Hearts" gets all Spanish in its rhythms and begins a duo of BJ Cole songs - the second being "Strange Images" - far better than the lame first (it features Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson of Hookfoot). Over on Side 2 "Another Day" continues Mick Grabham's melancholic songs underpinned by Cole's lovely playing. It comes as blessed relief to hear the unmistakable larynx of Steve Marriott on "Why I Sing The Blues" (plays Piano on the track also). After a very Ozark Mountain Daredevils "Can I Break Your Heart?" (sweet vocals and production values) - the album ends on a short but slightly pointless Pedal Steel instrumental of that Gospel Traditional "O Come All Ye Faithful".

Things funk up with the opener "Cajun Girl" on album number three - a great slinky guitar groove supplied by new drummer Roy O'Temro. Dave Elliott provides "Blind Love" - a lovely song that feels like early Seventies Hollies (Gilbert's voice is akin to Allan Clarke). Quite why a live cover version of Neil Young's "Dance, Dance, Dance" is slapped into the middle of Side 1 is anyone's guess - but after an inaudible spoken intro - you can partially hear why - they rocked in a Country way when live. Back to the Pedal Steel and Country Rock for "So Many Times" - a sweetheart of a melody penned by the band's permanent Bassist Ricky Wills. They rock with "Diamonds" - Grabham finding his inner Crazy Horse even if BJ Cole accompanies him too much. That Country rocking continues with "Wishing Well" and the LP ends on the decidedly funky "Midnight Moonshine".Of the three albums - "So Far" is probably the most accomplished - but in truth none of them light up in a way that would have had punters take notice. With the great presentation and audio - fans should dive in - I'd advise others to nab a listen first...

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To date I've over 3500 posts/reviews and 80+ Listmania Lists on Amazon UK - most are for quality music CD REMASTERS and FILMS on BLU RAY.

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They feature recommendations from years of trawling through digipaks and flicks. I tend to highlight reissues and remasters that have slipped through the net and movies on DVD and BLU RAY that deserve your attention/reappraisal.

My music reviews are in-depth - focusing on decent remasters - interesting imports - rarities - info that helps a purchase decision etc. And I often provide a Discography for Box Sets and multiples and detailed track lists for reissues.

Loved the awesome re-issues of Steve McQueen by PREFAB SPROUT and Strangers Almanac by WHISKEYTOWN [with Ryan Adams]. The three definitive Bear Family Series - Street Corner Symphonies (1934 to 1958 Vocal Groups), Blowing The Fuse (1945 to 1960 R'n'B - most reviewed) and Sweet Soul Music (1961 to 1975 - all 15 reviewed).

Check out the beautiful Scottish Folk of Black Water by KRIS DREVER (2006) and the Sahara rocking beat of TINARIWEN'S Aman Iman - Water Is Life. 2011 saw Jethro Tull's Aqualung receive a stunning makeover by Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree and 2012 has Just As I Am by Bill Withers be given a top remaster by Big Break Records of the UK. Loving the 2013 Japanese SHM-CD reissues of J.J. Cale and the 2012 to 2015 Japan-Only Atlantic 1000: Best R&B Collection (see Joe Turner reviews). Small Faces Here Come The Nice and The Blue Nile's Hats & Peace At Last Deluxe Editions for 2014. Digging Edsel's 4CD Box Sets For The Beat and The Sound - superb. Edsel's Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge CD Reissues from late 2016 are also superb.

Films - The Help, Lincoln, The Bands Visit, Man On A Ledge, The Grey, Mr. Nobody, Third Star, Caramel, Easy-A, Crash, United 93, The Insider, Death To Smoochy, Babel, Kinsey, Bright Star, Stranger Than Fiction, Imagine Me & You, The Namesake, After The Wedding, Seraphim Falls, Michael Clayton, Frankie Go Boom, Infamous, Gran Torino, The Blind Side, Invictus, Crazy Heart, Ondine, Amelie, Four Lions, Young Victoria, Untouchable, Jo Nesbo's Headhunters and The Secret In Their Eyes are what's most impressed in the last while. The Shawshank Redemption is for me the greatest film ever made, Cinema Paradiso the most beautiful and Nil By Mouth the most powerful.

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I'm Irish (originally from Dublin) and married with 3 grown-up kids - one of which has autism (The Beautiful Dean).

I was a vinyl rarities buyer and put-upon expert in Reckless Records (Soho, London) for over 20 years and have contributed to many of the Record Collector Rare Record Price Guides.

Currently freelance writer/reviewer. Have written four screenplays - "The Cloths Of Heaven", "Silas", "An English Lady - The Eglantyne Jebb Story" and "Full Of Grace" which I'll discuss with Film Industry Insiders.